Sparking igniter.



$16,861,615. S PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

' J. M. SMITH. SPARKING- IGNITBR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1905 z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVENTORK No, 861,615. PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

' J. M. SMITH,

SPARKING IGNITER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. a, 1905 2 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

' I 54 INVENRI ATTORNEY JAMES M. SMITH, OF PIIILiiDELPHlA, PEN

CLARENCE L. ALTEMUS AND ONE-THIRD TO ,DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of 7 Application filed February 3 NSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO HERBERT B. BOWLES, BOTH F 'PIITLA- SPARKING IGNITER.

Letters Patent.

,1905. Serial No. 243,968.

Patented Jul-y- 30, 1907.

To all whom it may concern.-

'.Be it known that 1, lanes M. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sparking Igniters; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the. invention,

" with a. novel construction of electrical appliance or device for igniting the charges of explosive medium.

With this object in view, my invention consists, primarily, in the novel arrangement and construction of circuit-closing or contact-making and breaking (l( \'l.(!C/- which is to be used in connection with an induction coil, the priinary coil of which is supplied from a storage battery or other source of electrical energy, and the secondary coil of the induction coil being connccted in circuit with the sparkcr or igniting device in the combustion chamber of the engine.

'A further object of this invention is to provide a novel contact making and breaking device of the character hereinafter more fully set iorth, the casing of whicli,-an(l in consequence the operating pants oi the device, can be adjusted in different positions against the side of the motor-casing, or other part thereof, so

as to provide a means by whiclrlhc time of closing the 1 primary circuit may be varied to produr'ie an earlier panying drawings, in which can later spark with reference to the stroke of the piston.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the HCCOIII- Figure 1 is a general viewof one form of explosive gas. engine, parts of which are represented in elevation and other parts thereof being shown in section, with a sectional view oi the contact making and breaking dcvice, embodyingthe princil'iles of this invention, in position and connected in circuit. with a source of electricity'and an induction coil, said view also illustrat ing the manner of chnnecting in circuit the said induction coil with the igniting device'of the gas engine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section Ofwtllfi several parts illustrat d in said Fig. l, thcsaid section being taken on line 2-'.2in'said figure. Fig. iiisa view, onan enlarged scale, of the contact-making and breaking device, the

casing of the same being represented in vertical sec-1 tion, and the operating mechanism or working parts thereof being shown inclevation; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section. of the said centact'making and breaking Fig. 3; and Fig. is a vertical section of the device, taken on line 5-in said Fig. 4.. Figs. 6 and Tare a top and bottom view, respectively, of the contactmaking parts of the said device, detached from the casing. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section of the igniting device, employed in connection with the combustion chamber of the engine.

Similar characters of reference are employed in alL of the said above described views, to indicate correl spending parts.

Referring now to the said drawings, the reference character 1 indicates the cylinder of any one of the usual forms of explosive gas engines, the uppcrport ion thereof, in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, being repri sentcd in vertical section to clearly illustrate the arrangement of the combustion chamber 2 of said cylinder. The usual form of piston is indicated by the reference character 3, and 4 isthc piston rod which is \are secured, in any well known manner, upon the respective po tions (5 and 6 of the main shaft of the'engine. The said portions (Sand ti, as will be seen from Fig. 2, rotate in suitable bearings in the crank-chamlwr 7 of the engine, and suitably secured upon the reduced end-portion of the shalt-portion 6 is a pinion 8. This pinion 8 is arranged and rotates in a chamber formed by a casing 9 which is securedagainst the side of the said cranlcchambcr 7 by means of bolts or pins 10. At any desircdpoint is placed an induction coil 1 I, the. primary coil of which'has its binding posts 12 and 13 connected in circuit by means of the wires 14 and 15 ignitiug device/oi thf engine. The said sparkcr or igniting device, which is more clearly illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings, consists, essentially, of a inetallic bushing 21. which is provided with a shodlder 22 and a screw-portion 23 by means of which it, is screwed in position in the combustion chumbcr2 ot' the engine, as clearly illustrated in Fig. l.' Within the tubular portion of said bushing 21 is arranged a tulullar-stcm 24 which is made oilib'cr or any other suitable insulating material. The said stem 24 is preferably provided with a shoulder 25 which is titled in the enlarged portion 26 of the bushing 21 and rcsts against a shoulder 26 in the enlarged part 26, substantially as shown i i aid Fig. ii, being held in place by means of a sulitable device, said section being taken on line 44 in said stull'ingbox 27 and the paekiug 28.

connected with the crank-disks 5. These crank disks with an electric battery lo, or other source of electrical nectcd by means of the wire 20 with thesparker or Within the tubular part or duct 0f the stem 24 is. a metallic rod 29 which is provided with an enlargement 32 at its inner end, within the combustion chamber 2, and is provided upon its opposite and screw-threaded end 30 with a pair of screw-washers or nuts 31 between which I have secured the end of the wire which is connected with the binding post 18 of the secondary coil of the induction coil 11, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Thus, it will be evident, that when the secondary coil of the induction coil 11 is excited, in the manner to be hereinafter more fully described, a complete electric circuit is established through the wire 19 and the engine, and through the wire 20 with the conductor rod 29, to an interval between the enlargement 32 .of said rod 29 and a bent contactpiece or.wire 33.0f the bushing 21 within the combustion chamber 2 of the engine. The interval of separation between the enlargement 32 and the piece set forth the general arrangement and construction of the make and break device, iis'operaiion, and the manner of electrically connecting it with the battery and the prii'nary coil of the inducion coil ll. As will be seen from an inspection of the sev ral figures of the drawings, the said device consists, essentially, of a back-plate 34 and a flanged cover 35, both of which are suitably secured together by means of tie-bolts or pins 36 and 37, so as to form a, casing. The said back-plate is preferably provided with curved slots 38 by means of which 'it can be adjustably secured against the face of the casing 9, by liieans of screws or bolts 35) and washers 40, as represented in Fig. l. Suitably secured to the frame of the crank-chamber 7 is a pin 4], upon which is relatively arranged and held in position by means of a nut 43, a sleeve 42 which is provided with a projection or cam 4 forraising the exhaust valve 45 of the engine. In order that the said rotary sleeve may receive its rotary motion, a gear 46 is secured thereon, said gear being in mcsh with the pinion 8 upon the end of the portion ti of the main driving shaft of the engine. Thcoue end of the said sleeve 42 ex tends through an opening in the back-plate 34 into the interior of the casing formed by said back-plate and its flanged cover 35, and has secured thereon, by means of a setscrew 47, or in any other manner, a ring 48 which is formed with aradially extending projection or actual.- ing teat 18C Within the said casing and secured against the back-plate 34 of the same, by means of the bolt 36, and by means of other screws 4!) and 15), is a block 50 which is made from fiber or any other suitable insulating material. The said block 5(l'is provided with a vertical duct 51 in which i have secured a short nietallic tube 52, the said tube being provided with an internal sh ulder 53 and an internal screw-thread In said screw-portion of the said tube 52 is a nut 55 the under side of the said nut 55, is a spring 59, the tension of which can be varied by means of an adjusting nut 56, whereby the contact end of the plunger is made to extend farther down toward i i: ring 48, or farther away from the same, as may be necessary under varying conditions, and whereby sliding contact between the projection or teat 48 and the contact end 'of the plunger 57 is made with greateror less ease and freedom, as may be required. The said block 50 is also provided in a portion 50 which extends from an opening in theside of the flanged cover 35. This portion is provided with a laterally extending duct 60 in which I have arranged a binding post 61 which is provided wi tha binding screw 62. and has a screw-threaded end-portion Gil screwed into the side of the tube 52, so as to establish an electrical connection therewith when the end of the circuit wire 14 isattached to the said binding post (3]. and secured in place by means of the screw 62. In like manner. the said portion 50 of the block 50 is provided with a second laterally extending duct 64, in which i have arranged a binding post (55 which is provided with a binding screw (ifi for securing the wire [5 to said post 65. The said binding post (35, as will be clearly seen from Fig. 5, is entirely insulated from the tube 52 and an electrical connection is established between the inner end-portion of said binding post (85 and the back-plate 34, by means of the screw or bolt 49, as will be clearly evident. The arrangement and construction of these several parts is such, that as long as the projection or teat 48 of the ring 48 is not in sliding engagement, or rather disconnected with the lower contai t end of the plunger 57, no electric circuit will be completed through the primary coil,ot' the induction coil ll, as will be well understood; but, when the said projection or teat 48 is brought against the lower end of'and in sliding engagement with the spring-actuated contact plunger 57,

then a complete electric circuit will be established through the said primary coil, which induces the secondary coil to become energized with a'high-tension current, and produces a spark in thc igniting device, in the inanncr previously described. During each revolution of the radially extending projection oi teat 4S, and at the time that the said priinary. coil becomes energized. the path of the current from the secondary coil of the induction coil ll is through the wire 20, through the parts of the sparker, shown in Fig 8, through the frame-work of the engine, and finally through the wire 19 from the engine back to said secondary coil. as will be clearly evident from an inspec- 5 tion of Fig. l of the drawings. As soon as theprojection or tcat 48 has passed beyond the contact end of the 'ilungcr 57, the electric circuit is again broken, and it will thus be seen that the current is only used during the time of explosion.

The arrangement of the curved slots 38 in the backplate 34 of the ma kc and break dcvice'is for the purpose of adjusting ilic said device, to the right or left. on the spindle il. and thereby bringing the end of the con-f facial-plunger 57 further awny'o'r closer to the projection 48 of the ring l8. which ring is always in a fixed position upon the saidspindli ii. A practical means is thereby provided by which the time of closing the primary circuit may be varied so as to produce-an carlicr or later spark with rcfcrence to the stroke of duct, the terminal in one of said lateral ducts being in-- pair of laterally extending ducts in that part of the block sulate'd from said metallic tubing, and an end-portion-of which extends from the casing, a metallic tubing in said the other terminal inthe other lateral duct being converticalduct, a contact-plunger movahly arranged in said nected with said metallictubing and making electrical metallic tubing. an electric terminal 65 in one of said contact therewith, substantially as and for the'purposes lateral ducts, insulated from said metallic tubing, but set forth having a hole ihrough which said screw o1 bolt 49' is J. In an explosive gas engine, the combination, with the passed and makes contact with the said terininai G5, and a frame of theenglue and its shaft, of an electric contact terminal 61 in the other lateral duct having an end-portion making and breaking device, comprising a casing, consist connected with said metallic tubing and making electrical inn. csscntialiyfof a back-plate having slotted portions, contact therewith, suhstantially'as and for the purposes and a flanged cover. means in said slotted portions of the sci forth. hack-plate for adju'stably securing said casing to the frame in testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above of the engine, said casing being provided with an opening I have hereunto set my hand this thirty first day of Januin its side, a block of insulating material in said casing, ary; 1905.

screws or bolts 4.) and 49 for securing said lglock against JAMES SMITH said plate, said block being provided with a vertical duct,

:1 rim, secured upon the shaft'of the engine, and a projcw I Witnesses:

lion extending from said ring adapted to be brought in I FRANCIS 1 human, enuacuu-ni with the cnd-pnrtion of said plunger, and a LYMAN B. CIIILDS. 

